Two weeks after the UFC's public release of Muhammad Mokaev following UFC 304, the drama involving the undefeated flyweight continues.
Mokaev posted a message to his X (formerly Twitter) account on August 10, giving a thank you message to other promotions, including the PFL, Brave CF, RIZIN, Karate Combat, and ACA.
Mokaev claimed that the organizations all reached out to him and he is contemplating his next move — with one ultimate goal in mind that does not involve any of them.
"I appreciate [you] for believing in me, now I will sit down with my team and take the best option not on money wise but that could let me go back to the UFC ASAP!" Mokaev posted.
PFL Executive Claims The Promotion Never Reached Out To Muhammad Mokaev
Hours after Mokaev's message, former Bellator matchmaker and current PFL executive Mike Kogan took to his Instagram Stories to refute "The Punisher's" claim. Kogan insisted that the PFL is not among those who have contacted Mokaev.
"This story is a lie - no one from PFL or Bellator spoke to the dude or even showed an [ounce] of interest," Kogan posted.
Kogan's message would go along the comments Ray Sefo made last week at the PFL post-fight press conference in Nashville, where he remarked that Mokaev was a "pain in the ass" and that he had no interest in him.
It should be noted, however, that Sefo is a part of Xtreme Couture, where Manel Kape trains at. "Starboy" and Mokaev had public altercations in the lead-up to their UFC 304 bout, which the Dagestan-born Brit ultimately won in a fight that was heavily scrutinized and widely branded lackluster.
At the UFC 304 post-fight press conference, UFC CEO Dana White publicly announced that Mokaev would not be re-signed by the promotion, stating that the PFL would get a great undefeated talent.
MMA commentator Ben "The Bane" Davis would go on to report an anonymous tip he received that Mokaev attempted to use PFL for contractual leverage prior to the expiration of his UFC contract.
Davis' report was refuted by Mokaev's team, though "The Punisher's" response to Sefo on social media — claiming he wouldn't take the PFL's deal anyway — has sparked confusion regarding the situation.